Display control apparatus, method for controlling same, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A display control apparatus includes a touch detection unit that detects a touch operation on a touch panel, a unit setting unit that sets a unit of unit-by-unit image switching, and a switching unit that switches images so that if the unit is a first unit, an image the first unit ahead is displayed based on a predetermined touch-move of moving a touch position for a first distance, and if the unit is a second unit greater than the first unit, an image the second unit ahead is displayed based on the predetermined touch-move for a second distance longer than the first distance. The second distance is shorter than a distance of the predetermined touch-move required to display an image the second unit ahead of a first image when the unit set by the unit setting unit is the first unit.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to a technique for switching images to bedisplayed via a touch operation.

Description of the Related Art

Electronic apparatuses and smartphones that change images to bedisplayed via a touch operation have been widely used in recent years.Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-211390 discussesdisplaying an image corresponding to a display position of a cursorbased on the position of the cursor in a position display area. JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-172836 discusses advancing imagesvia a touch operation.

A user who searches for an image to be displayed can search images closein order to the currently-displayed image or can search images remote inorder from the currently-displayed image. If the operation discussed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-211390 is performed via atouch operation as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNo. 2015-172836, a touch-move needs to be made over a large distance toadvance images to ones remote in order. If the distance of thetouch-move is set to facilitate searching images remote in order, thedistance of a touch-move in displaying images close in order becomes sosmall that fine adjustment is difficult to make.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a technique for improving theoperability of users in making an image switching operation via a touchoperation.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a display controlapparatus includes, a touch detection unit that detects a touchoperation on a touch panel, a unit setting unit configured to set a unitof unit-by-unit image switching, and a switching unit configured toswitch images to be displayed so that if the unit set by the unitsetting unit is a first unit, an image the first unit ahead is displayedbased on a predetermined touch-move of moving a touch position on thetouch panel being made for a first distance, and if the unit set by theunit setting unit is a second unit greater than the first unit, an imagethe second unit ahead is displayed based on the predetermined touch-movebeing made for a second distance longer than the first distance, whereinthe second distance is shorter than a distance of the predeterminedtouch-move required to display an image the second unit ahead of a firstimage when the unit set by the unit setting unit is the first unit.

Further features will become apparent from the following description ofexemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an appearance of an imagingapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of the imaging apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating playback mode processing according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating screen examplesaccording to the exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 5A to 5H are schematic diagrams illustrating screen examplesaccording to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating touch-move processing according tothe exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E are diagrams illustrating an imageadvancing operation via a touch-move operation according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen example according tothe exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to thedrawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an appearance of a digitalcamera according to a first exemplary embodiment of an imaging apparatusto which the present disclosure is applicable. FIG. 1A is a frontperspective view of a digital camera 100. FIG. 1B is a rear perspectiveview of the digital camera 100. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a display unit 128is a display unit for displaying images and various types ofinformation. The display unit 128 includes a touch panel 170 a thatdetects a touch operation. A shutter button 161 is an operation unit forgiving imaging instructions. A mode change switch 160 is an operationunit for switching various modes. A terminal cover 140 is a cover forcovering a connection cable connector (not illustrated) for connecting aconnection cable of an external apparatus to the digital camera 100. Amain electronic dial 171 is a rotary operation member. Setting valuessuch as a shutter speed and an aperture value can be changed by rotatingthe main electronic dial 171. A power switch 172 is an operation memberfor switching on and off of a power supply of the digital camera 100. Asub electronic dial 173 is a rotary operation member for moving aselection frame and advancing images. A cross key 174 is a four-way key,i.e., an upper, lower, left, and right portions of which can be eachpressed. Operations of the digital camera 100 can be made based on thepressed portions of the cross key 174. A set button 175 is a push buttonthat is mainly used to determine a selected item. A lens unit 150includes lenses.

A live view (LV) button 178 is a button for switching on and off of anLV. In a moving image capturing mode, the LV button 178 is used to giveinstructions to start and stop capturing (recording) a moving image. Azoom button 180 is an operation button for turning on and off a zoommode during a live view display in an image capturing mode, and changinga magnification ratio in the zoom mode. In a playback mode, the zoombutton 180 functions as a zoom button for magnifying a playback image toincrease the magnification ratio. A reduction button 181 is a button forreducing the magnification ratio of the magnified playback image toreduce the displayed image. A playback button 179 is an operation buttonfor switching between the image capturing mode and the playback mode. Ifthe playback button 179 is pressed in the image capturing mode, thedigital camera 100 enters the playback mode, whereby a latest imageamong images recorded on a recording medium 200 can be displayed on thedisplay unit 128. The shutter button 161, the main electronic dial 171,the power switch 172, the sub electronic dial 173, the cross key 174,the set button 175, the LV button 178, and the playback button 179 areincluded in an operation unit 170.

An eyepiece viewfinder (hereinafter, referred to as viewfinder) 116 is alook-in type viewfinder for observing a focusing screen 213, describedbelow, to check focus and composition of an optical image of an object,obtained through the lens unit 150. A lid 192 is a lid of a slot inwhich the recording medium 200 is loaded. A grip portion 190 is aholding portion with a shape easy to grip by the right hand when theuser holds the digital camera 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of thedigital camera 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment. InFIG. 2, the lens unit 150 is an interchangeable lens unit including animaging lens. For the sake of simplicity, a lens 201 is illustrated as asingle lens, whereas a plurality of lenses is usually included.

A mirror 212 is moved up and down by an actuator (not illustrated) basedon instructions from a system control unit 250 during exposure, liveview imaging, and moving image capturing. The mirror 212 is a mirror forswitching a light flux incident from the lens 201 toward the viewfinder116 and an imaging unit 222. Normally, the mirror 212 is arranged toreflect and guide the light flux to the viewfinder 116. When imaging isperformed or during a live view display, the mirror 212 is flipped upand retracted from the light flux (mirror up) so that the light flux isguided to an imaging unit 222. The mirror 212 is configured as a halfmirror so that part of the light flux can be transmitted through acenter portion thereof. The part of the light flux is reflected by a submirror 220 arranged subsequent thereto and is incident on a focusdetection unit 211 for focus detection.

The user of the digital camera 100 observes an image formed on thefocusing screen 213 via a pentaprism 214 and the viewfinder 116, and canthereby check a focus state and composition of the optical image of theobject obtained through the lens unit 150. A focal plane shutter 291controls an exposure time of the imaging unit 222 under control of thesystem control unit 250.

The imaging unit 222 includes an image sensor, such as a charge-coupleddevice (CCD) sensor or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)sensor, for converting an optical image into an electrical signal. Ananalog-to-digital (A/D) converter 223 converts an analog signal into adigital signal. The image sensor in the imaging unit 222photoelectrically converts an object image formed on the image sensorthrough the lens unit 150 and outputs the resultant as an electricalsignal.

An image processing unit 224 performs resize processing, such aspredetermined pixel interpolation and reduction, and color conversionprocessing on data from the A/D converter 223 or data from a memorycontrol unit 215. The image processing unit 224 also performspredetermined calculation processing by using captured image data. Basedon the obtained calculation result, the system control unit 250 performsexposure control and range finding control. Through-the-lens (TTL)automatic focus (AF) processing, automatic exposure (AE) processing, andelectronic flash (EF) (i.e., flash preliminary emission) processing arethereby performed. The image processing unit 224 also performspredetermined calculation processing by using the captured image data,and performs TTL automatic white balance (AWB) processing based on theobtained calculation result.

Output data from the A/D converter 223 is written to a memory 232 viathe image processing unit 224 and the memory control unit 215, ordirectly via the memory control unit 215. The memory 232 stores imagedata that is obtained by the imaging unit 222 and digitally converted bythe A/D converter 232, and image data to be displayed on the displayunit 128. The memory 232 has a storage capacity sufficient to store apredetermined number of still images and a predetermined time period ofa moving image and sound.

The memory 232 also serves as a memory for image display (video memory).A digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 219 converts data for image display,stored in the memory 232, into an analog signal and supplies the analogsignal to the display unit 128. The data for image display, written inthe memory 232, is thus displayed by the display unit 128 via the D/Aconverter 219. The display unit 128 provides display based on the analogsignal from the D/A converter 219 on a display such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD). If a digital signal that is once A/D converted by the A/Dconverter 223 and stored in the memory 232 is analog converted by theD/A converter 219 and successively transferred to and displayed on thedisplay unit 128, the display unit 128 functions as an electronicviewfinder. This enables a through image display (live view display).The display unit 128 is a liquid crystal rear monitor for displaying animage. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the display unit 128 is provided onthe rear surface of the digital camera 100. The display unit 128 is notlimited to an LCD and can be other types of displays for displaying animage. Examples thereof include an organic electroluminescence (EL)display.

A nonvolatile memory 256 is a memory that can be electrically erased andrecorded by the system control unit 250. For example, an electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is used as thenonvolatile memory 256. The nonvolatile memory 256 stores, for example,operation constants and a program for the system control unit 250. Theprogram here refers to a program for performing various flowchartsdescribed below in the present exemplary embodiment.

The system control unit 250 includes at least one built-in processor,and controls the entire digital camera 100. The system control unit 250executes the foregoing program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 256 toimplement each process of the present exemplary embodiment describedbelow. A system memory 252 is a random access memory (RAM). Operationconstants and variables for operating the system control unit 250 andthe program read from the nonvolatile memory 256 are loaded into thesystem memory 252. The system control unit 250 also performs displaycontrol by controlling the memory 232, the D/A converter 219, and thedisplay unit 128.

The mode change switch 160, the shutter button 161, and the operationunit 170 are operation units for inputting various operationinstructions to the system control unit 250. The mode change switch 160switches an operation mode of the system control unit 250 to a stillimage recording mode, a moving image capturing mode, or the playbackmode. The still image recording mode includes modes such as an automaticimaging mode, an automatic scene determination mode, a manual mode, anaperture value priority mode (Av mode), and a shutter speed prioritymode (Tv mode). Various scene modes, which are scene-specific imagingsettings, a program AE mode, and a custom mode are also included. Themode change switch 160 is used to switch directly to any one of suchmodes included in a menu screen. Alternatively, the mode change switch160 can be used to once switch to the menu screen, and other operationmembers can be then used to switch to any one of the modes included inthe menu screen. The moving image capturing mode can similarly include aplurality of modes.

A first shutter switch 262 turns on to generate a first shutter switchsignal SW1 if the shutter button 161 provided on the digital camera 100is operated halfway, i.e., half-pressed (imaging preparationinstruction). Based on the first shutter switch signal SW1, the systemcontrol unit 250 starts operations of the AF processing, the AEprocessing, the AWB processing, and the EF processing. A second shutterswitch 264 turns on to generate a second shutter switch signal SW2 ifthe shutter button 161 is completely operated, i.e., fully pressed(imaging instruction). Based on the second shutter switch signal SW2,the system control unit 250 starts a series of imaging processingoperations from reading of a signal from the imaging unit 222 to writingof image data to the recording medium 200.

The operation unit 170 includes various operation members serving asinput units for accepting operations from the user. The operation unit170 includes operation units such as the main electronic dial 171, thepower switch 172, the sub electronic dial 173, the cross key 174, theset button 175, the LV button 178, the zoom button 180, the reductionbutton 181, and the playback button 179. Some of the functions of theoperation unit 170 are assigned to the touch panel type display unit128. If various function icons displayed on the display unit 128 areselected and operated, scene-specific appropriate functions are assignedto operation buttons of the operation unit 170 that are displayed on thedisplay unit 128, and the operation buttons function as various functionbuttons. Examples of the function buttons include an end button, a backbutton, an image advancing button, a jump button, a narrow-down button,and an attribute change button. For example, if a menu button ispressed, a menu screen that enables various settings is displayed on thedisplay unit 128. The user can make touch operations on the menu screendisplayed on the display unit 128 and can intuitively make varioussettings.

The foregoing touch panel type operation unit 170 is configured so thatthe touch panel 170 a (touch detection unit) that detects touchoperations is integrally arranged on the surface of the display unit128. For example, the touch panel 170 a is configured to have a lighttransmittance not to interfere with the display of the display unit 128,and attached to an upper layer of the display surface of the displayunit 128. Input coordinates of the touch panel 170 a are then associatedwith display coordinates on the display unit 128. In such a manner, agraphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to make operations asif intuitively operating the screen displayed on the display unit 128can be configured.

The system control unit 250 can detect the following operations orstates of the touch panel 170 a:

-   -   A state where a finger or pen not having touched the touch panel        170 a first comes touches the touch panel 170 a. In other words,        a start of a touch (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch-down”).    -   A state where the touch panel 170 a is being touched with a        finger or pen (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch-on”).    -   A state where a finger or pen touching the touch panel 170 a        moves (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch-move”).    -   A state where a finger or pen touching the touch panel 170 a is        released. In other words, an end of a touch (hereinafter,        referred to as a “touch-up”).    -   A state in which nothing is touching the touch panel 170 a        (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch-off”).

If a touch-down is detected, a touch-on is simultaneously detected.After the touch-down, the touch-on usually continues to be detectedunless a touch-up is detected. A touch-move can be detected in a statewhere a touch-on is detected. Even if a touch-on is detected, atouch-move operation is not detected without a movement of the touchposition. A touch-off occurs after a touch-up of all touching fingersand pens are detected to be made.

Such operations and states and position coordinates where a finger orpen touches the touch panel 170 a are notified to the system controlunit 250 through an internal bus. Based on the notified information, thesystem control unit 250 determines what operation is made on the touchpanel 170 a. In the case of a touch-move, the system control unit 250can determine both vertical and horizontal components, on the touchpanel 170 a, of the moving direction of the finger or pen moving on thetouch panel 170 a based on a change in the position coordinates. If theuser makes a touch-down on the touch panel 170 a, a certain touch-move,and then a touch-up, the system control unit 250 determines that a“stroke” is drawn. An operation of quickly drawing a stroke will bereferred to as a “flick”. A flick is an operation of quickly moving afinger or pen touching the touch panel 170 a for some distance anddirectly releasing the finger or pen. In other words, a flick is anoperation of quickly sliding a finger or pen over the touch panel 170 aas if flipping. A flick can be determined to be made if a touch-move isdetected to be made over a predetermined distance or more at apredetermined speed or higher, immediately followed by a touch-up. If atouch-move is detected to be made over a predetermined distance or moreand below a predetermined speed, the system control unit 250 determinesthat a drag is made. There are various systems of touch panels,including a resistive, capacitive, surface elastic wave, infrared,electromagnetic induction, image recognition, and optical sensorsystems. The touch panel 170 a can use any one of such systems. Somesystems detect a touch if the touch panel is contacted. Some systemsdetect a touch if a finger or pen approaches the touch panel. Any of thesystems can be employed.

Referring back to FIG. 2, a power supply control unit 280 includes abattery detection circuit, a direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-DC)converter, and a switch circuit for switching blocks to be energized.The power supply control unit 280 detects the presence or absence of amounted battery, a battery type, and a remaining battery level. Thepower supply control unit 280 controls the DC-DC converter based on thedetection results and instructions from the system control unit 250, andsupplies required voltages to various components including the recordingmedium 200 for required periods.

A power supply unit 230 includes a primary battery such as an alkalibattery and a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as anickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, anda lithium ion battery, and an alternating current (AC) adapter. Arecording medium interface (I/F) 218 is an interface with the recordingmedium 200, such as a memory card and a hard disk. The recording medium200 is a recording medium, such as a memory card, for recording capturedimages, and includes a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating playback mode processing of thedigital camera 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment.Operation of this flowchart is started when the power switch 172 isoperated to switch on the power supply and the playback button 179 isoperated to switch to the playback mode. The program stored in thenonvolatile memory 256 is loaded into the system memory 252 and thesystem control unit 250 executes the program, whereby each process ofthe flowchart is implemented.

Initially, when the playback mode processing of an image is started, instep S301, the system control unit 250 displays a “single display” imageon the display unit 128. FIG. 5A illustrates a screen display examplewhen a display state is a single display. A screen 510 displays a singleimage like an image 512. An index 514 indicates that 100 images arestored in the recording medium 200 and the image 512 is the 21st imageof the 100 images.

In step S302, the system control unit 250 determines whether anoperation for setting the number of images to be jumped in jumpadvancing is made. The jump advancing refers to jumping (skipping)images when the user browses the images arranged in order whileadvancing them. The user can set the number of images to be jumped bybutton operations on a menu screen in the playback mode or by operationonto the touch panel 170 a. As described below, if the menu button ispressed on the playback screen and an item for setting the number ofimages to be jumped is selected, the determination of step S302 is“YES”. Examples of options for the number of images to be jumped include1, 10, 40, and by date (by unit). The user can select a desired numberof images to be switched (how to separate) from such numbers of imagesto be jumped (unit setting). If the operation for setting the number ofimages to be jumped is made (YES in step S302), the processing proceedsto step S303. In step S303, the system control unit 250 sets the numberof images to be jumped in jump advancing, and returns the display of thedisplay unit 128 to the state of displaying a “single display” image.Then, the processing proceeds to step S310. If the operation for settingthe number of images to be jumped is not made (NO in step S302), theprocessing proceeds to step S304.

In step S304, the system control unit 250 determines whether theforegoing touch-move operation of sliding the user's finger or pen ismade on the touch panel 170 a. If a touch-move operation is made (YES instep S304), the processing proceeds to step S305. If not (NO in stepS304), the processing proceeds to step S306. In step S305, the systemcontrol unit 250 performs touch-move processing.

In step S306, the system control unit 250 determines whether either oneof left and right keys of the cross key 174 is pressed. If the left orright key is pressed (YES in step S306), the processing proceeds to stepS307. If not (NO in step S306), the processing proceeds to step S308. Instep S307, the system control unit 250 performs single advancing of theplayback image. If the left key is pressed in step S306, the image to bedisplayed advances to the previous image (i.e., image locatedimmediately before the current image). If the right key is pressed, theimage to be displayed advances to the next image (i.e., image locatedimmediately ahead the current image).

In step S308, the system control unit 250 determines whether the subelectronic dial 173 is operated. If the sub electronic dial 173 isoperated (YES in step S308), the processing proceeds to step S309. Ifnot (NO in step S308), the processing proceeds to step S310. In stepS309, the system control unit 250 performs jump advancing. If the subelectronic dial 173 is operated to rotate to the left (dial operation)in step S308, the display image advances to an image previous to thecurrent image by the number of images to be jumped (e.g., 10 images, 30images (N times of 1), or as many as images of the previous orsubsequent days). If the sub electronic dial 173 is operated to rotateto the right, the display image advances to an image ahead of thecurrent image by the number of images to be jumped (one unit ahead).

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the foregoing operation for setting thenumber of images to be jumped will be described. FIG. 4A illustrates ascreen of the display unit 128 to be displayed when the menu button ispressed. The screen displays a list of functions 402. The user moves acursor 404 by pressing up, down, left, or right buttons included in theoperation unit 170, and presses the set button to enter a setting changescreen of an arbitrary function. Alternatively, the user can select abutton on the screen by operation on the touch panel 170 a.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a jump number settingscreen. The jump number setting screen displays a function title 412 andoptions (items) 414 to 430. The function title 412 “jump number setting”is an item for setting the number of images to be jumped when the subelectronic dial 173 included in the operation unit 170 is operated. Theuser selects an option from the options 414 to 430. An initial value is10 images of the option 416.

Each option will be described here. The option 414 is a setting toperform jump advancing image by image (same as normal image advancing).The option 416 is a setting to perform jump advancing in units of 10images. The option 418 is a setting to perform jump advancing by anarbitrary number of images set by the user. Assume that the arbitrarynumber of images is set to 40. The option 420 is a setting to performjump advancing in units of imaging dates. The option 422 is a setting toperform jump advancing folder by folder (group by group). The option 424is a setting to perform jump advancing in units of moving image files.The option 426 is a setting to perform jump advancing in units of stillimage files. The option 428 is a setting to perform jump advancing inunits of locked image files, i.e., image files on which a deletiondisable flag is set. The option 430 is a setting to perform jumpadvancing in units of image files that are set as favorites.

Operability of an image displayed on the display unit 128 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 5E to 5H. A case in which an imagestored in the recording medium 200 is displayed on the display unit 128is described here. Functions to be performed when touch operations aremade on the display unit 128, and touch coordinates and touch areas foruse in the following description of the exemplary embodiment, are alsodescribed. In the following description, the terms “touch-down”,“touch-on”, “touch-move”, “touch-up”, and “touch-off” are as describedabove.

FIG. 5E illustrates a case in which a touch-down and a touch-move aremade on the touch panel 170 a of the display unit 128. The point of thetouch-down will be denoted as (Xo, Yo), and a point that is currentlytouched-on will be denoted as (X, Y). The amount of movement in an Xdirection can be expressed as |X−Xo|, and the amount of movement in a Ydirection as |Y−Yo|. With Yc as a border, different operability isprovided when Yo≤Yc, i.e., an area above Yc is operated and when Yo Yc,i.e., an area at or below Yc is operated.

FIGS. 5E and 5F illustrate operability when an area above Yc isoperated. In the present exemplary embodiment, such an operation will bereferred to as “single advancing”. If a touch-down and a touch-move fromthe right to the left are made on an image 552 on a screen 550, asillustrated in FIG. 5E, no image switching is performed until |X−Xo|exceeds a specific value (amount required to switch images by one unit).If |X−Xo| exceeds the specific value, as illustrated in FIG. 5F, imageswitching is performed. A screen 560 displays an image 564 on the rightside of an image 562. The image 564 is the image subsequent to the image562 stored in the recording medium 200.

FIGS. 5G and 5H are diagrams illustrating operability when an area at orbelow Yc is operated. If a touch-down is made on an image 572 on ascreen 570 as illustrated in FIG. 5G, a jump bar 590 is displayed. If atouch-move is made over the jump bar 590 as illustrated in FIG. 5H, jumpadvancing is performed to an image several images ahead based on theamount of movement M of the touch-move. The jump bar 590 is hidden upona touch-up, and the jump advancing ends. Here, the image of ten imagesahead is displayed as an image 582 since the number of images to bejumped is 10. If jump advancing can be performed for an arbitrary numberof images, the number of images can be displayed as a guide for easyunderstanding of the user. During jump advancing, the amount of jumpadvancing can therefore be displayed as a guide for the user, like “Ximages are advanced”. In the foregoing description, the playback stateof the screen is described to be a single display. However, similaroperability can be provided if the playback state of the screen is amultiple display.

The touch-move processing, which is used in the foregoing descriptionand is performed in step S305 of the flowchart of FIG. 3, will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustratingthe touch-move processing of the digital camera 100 according to thepresent exemplary embodiment. The program stored in the nonvolatilememory 256 is loaded into the system memory 252 and the system controlunit 250 executes the program, whereby each process of this flowchart isimplemented.

In step S602, the system control unit 250 obtains the touch position(Xo, Yo) on the touch panel 170 a of the display unit 128. In step S604,the system control unit 250 determines whether Yo Yc. If Yo Yc (inside afirst area) (YES in step S604), the processing proceeds to step S610 toperform jump advancing of the playback image. If not (outside the firstarea) (NO in step S604), the processing proceeds to step S605 to performsingle advancing of the playback image.

In step S605, the system control unit 250 determines whether a touch-upfrom the touch panel 170 a is made. If a touch-up is made (YES in stepS605), the processing proceeds to step S606. If not (NO in step S605),the processing returns to step S604. In step S606, the system controlunit 250 determines whether the touch-move amount M made in the X-axisdirection is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold U. Ifthe touch-move amount M in the X-axis direction is greater than or equalto U (YES in step S606), the processing proceeds to step S607 to performan operation for advancing the image by one. If not (NO in step S606),the processing of FIG. 6 ends without performing image advancing. Forexample, the threshold U is set to a distance one half or one third ofthat of the touch panel 170 a in the X-axis direction. In step S607, thesystem control unit 250 advances the image by one, i.e., displays theprevious or next image of the image currently displayed on the displayunit 128. Then, the flowchart ends.

In step S610, the system control unit 250 displays the jump bar 590 onthe display unit 128 (see FIGS. 5G and 5H) to perform jump advancing.The horizontal width of the jump bar 590 here is set to 40 times apredetermined threshold A, i.e., 40×A. In step S611, the system controlunit 250 obtains the number of images to be jumped recorded in step S303of FIG. 3 to determine the number of images to be advanced by jumpadvancing (unit of image advancing). While the unit of jump advancing isdescribed to be the number of images to be advanced, the unit of jumpadvancing is not limited to the number of images and can be aperiod-based unit such as a date, month, and time. If the unit is aperiod, jump advancing switches to an image that is captured (or stored)one period (e.g., one hour, one day, or one month) before or after thecurrently-displayed image.

In step S612, the system control unit 250 determines whether the numberof images to be jumped is one. If the number of images to be jumped isone (YES in step S612), the processing proceeds to step S630. If thenumber of images to be jumped is not one (NO in step S612), theprocessing proceeds to step S620. In step S630, the system control unit250 sets a threshold L of the touch-move amount M for advancing oneimage to be L=A.

In step S620, the system control unit 250 determines whether the numberof images to be jumped is specified to be 10. If the number of images tobe jumped is 10 (YES in step S620), the processing proceeds to stepS621. If the number of images to be jumped is not 10 (NO in step S620),the processing proceeds to step S622. In step S621, the system controlunit 250 sets the threshold L of the touch-move amount M for advancing10 images to be L=B (A<B<10A), which is greater than the threshold L=Arequired for single advancing. Suppose, for example, that the thresholdL in the case of ten image advancing is set to 2A or 3A. Since tenimages (predetermined number of images) are not switched at the samepitch A as with single advancing, displayed images will not be abruptlyskipped by a small amount of touch-move. Since the threshold L is madesmaller than 10A, the user who wants to perform jump advancing in unitsof tens to easily switch to an image 30 or 40 images ahead does not needto make a touch-move from end to end of the jump bar 590. This providesexcellent operability. In step S621, the system control unit 250therefore sets the threshold L of the touch-move amount M in advancing10 images to B (L=B) that is greater than A and smaller than 10×A (theamount of jump×the threshold in the case of single advancing). After thethreshold L of the touch-move amount M for advancing images is set instep S621, the processing proceeds to step S631.

In step S622, the system control unit 250 determines whether the numberof images to be jumped is specified to be 30. If the number of images tobe jumped is 30 (YES in step S622), the processing proceeds to stepS623. If the number of images to be jumped is not 30 (NO in step S622),the processing proceeds to step S624. In step S623, the system controlunit 250 sets the threshold L of the touch-move amount M for advancing30 images to be L=C (A<B<C<3B or 30A) that is greater than A and B. Inthis way, as the unit of the number of images to be jumped increases,the distance of a touch-move required to advance the unit number ofimages (display an image the unit number of images ahead) becomesgreater than that when the unit is small. However, the switching can bemade by a small distance, compared to when the same number of images areadvanced in the small units. The user can thus perform jump advancingwith excellent operability regardless of the unit of the number ofimages of the jump advancing. After the threshold L of the touch-moveamount M for advancing images is set in step S623, the processingproceeds to step S631. In the foregoing example, the thresholds L forthe cases of 10 images and 30 images, which are units greater than oneimage (units greater than a predetermined unit), are described to be L=Band L=C (B<C), respectively. However, the same threshold may be set forboth cases. For example, suppose that L=2A both when the number ofimages to be jumped is 10 and when the number of images to be jumped is30. In such a case, the unit number of images are switched in responseto a touch-move over a distance of 2A both when the unit is 10 imagesand when the unit is 30 images. If the thresholds needed for switchingin units greater than a predetermined unit are the same, the distance ofa touch-move required to switch the unit number of images becomesconstant. The user can thus make intuitive operations since the feelingof operation is unchanged regardless of the units.

In step S624, the system control unit 250 determines whether the jump ofthe image advancing is a jump to an image of a different imaging date.If the jump of the image advancing is one to an image of a differentdate (YES in step S624), the processing proceeds to step S625. If thejump of the image advancing is one to an image of the same date (NO instep S624), the processing simply proceeds to step S631. In step S625,if the number of days of all the images recorded on the recording medium200 is 20 or less, the system control unit 250 sets the threshold L ofthe touch-move amount M for jumping to an image of a different date tobe L=(40×A)/the number of days. With such a setting, the user can switchthe images of all the dates, recorded in the recording medium 200, by asingle operation of making a touch-move from end to end of the jump bar590 that has a horizontal width of 40A. This eliminates the need torepeat touch-moves over and over to search for an intended date. Sincethe distance required to switch images of a single day is made as largeas possible, the user can access an intended date without a precisemoving operation on the touch position. If the number of days of all theimages exceeds 20, the system control unit 250 sets the threshold L tobe L=2A. As described above, the number of days refers to the number ofdays of all the images stored in the recording medium 200 (e.g., ifimages of three days are stored, three).

In step S631, the system control unit 250 obtains the touch-move amountM made by the user. If the touch-move amount M is detected for the firsttime, the touch-move amount M refers to the amount of change in thetouch position in the X-axis direction between the touch positionobtained in step S602 and the current touch position. From the secondtime or later, the touch-move amount M refers to the amount of change inthe touch position in the X-axis direction between the touch positionobtained in step S641 to be described below and the current touchposition.

In step S632, the system control unit 250 determines whether thetouch-move amount M reaches M=L (threshold set in step S630, S621, S623,or S625). If the touch-move amount M is equal to L (YES in step S632),the processing proceeds to step S640 to settle image advancing. If thetouch-move amount M is smaller than L (NO in step S632), the processingproceeds to step S635. In step S635, the system control unit 250determines whether the motion of the touch-move is stopped. If themotion of the touch-move is stopped (YES in step S635), the processingproceeds to step S636. In step S636, the system control unit 250determines whether a touch-up is made. If a touch-up is made (YES instep S636), the operation of the flowchart ends. If the motion of thetouch-move is not stopped in step S635 (NO in step S635) or if atouch-up is not made in step S636 (NO in step S636), the processingreturns to step S631. The system control unit 250 then repeats theacquisition of the touch-move amount M until M=L.

If the touch-move amount M is equal to L in step S632 (YES in step S632)and the processing proceeds to step S640, the system control unit 250advances images as many as the current unit of jump advancing, anddisplays the image the number of images before or after the currentimage on the display unit 128. At that time, a guide indicating thenumber of jumped images can be displayed. For example, suppose that theunit of image switching is 10 images, and a jump over 100 images ismade. In such a case, the guide can be displayed in a more noticeablemanner than with a jump over 30 images so that the user can recognize itif more than a predetermined number of images are advanced, compared tothe unit of jump advancing.

In step S641, the system control unit 250 obtains touch coordinates (Xn,Yn) currently touched. In step S642, the system control unit 250determines whether a touch-move is made. If a touch-move is made againafter the image advancing (YES in step S642), the processing returns tostep S631. In step S642, if a touch-move is not made (NO in step S642),the processing proceeds to step S636. In step S636, if a touch-up ismade (YES in step S636), the operation of this flowchart ends.

Next, an image advancing operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 6will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7E.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an image switching width when thenumber of images to be jumped is one. The jump bar 590 is a bar foraccepting the user's touch-move for jump advancing and is displayed onthe display unit 128. An image switching width 710 displayed for thesake of description indicates the switching width of the number ofimages to be jumped. A pitch of a section obtained by equally-dividingthe distance from the left end to the right end of the touch panel 170 ainto 40 sections will be denoted as A (same value as A in the foregoingdescription). A touch-move by the unit pitch A from left to rightdisplays the next image (i.e., display number is next number of thedisplay number of the current image). A touch-move by the unit pitch Afrom right to left displays the image ahead (i.e., display number isprevious number of the display number of the current image). Atouch-move from end to end of the touch panel 170 a can advance 40images. A touch-move of 10×A advances 10 images. For example, if A=0.2cm, a touch-move of 2 cm advances 10 images.

FIG. 7B is diagram illustrating an image switching width when the numberof images to be jumped is 10. An image switching width 720 indicates theswitching width. The threshold L is set to a pitch B that is greaterthan the pitch A when the number of images to be jumped is one, andsmaller than a touch-move distance (10×A) required to advance 10 imagesin the case of single advancing, indicated by the image switching width710. A touch-move by the pitch B from left to right displays the tenthprevious image (i.e., 10th image from the current image on the leftside). A touch-move by the pitch B from right to left displays the tenthimage ahead (i.e., 10th image from the current image on the right side).If a touch-move is made for a distance smaller than the pitch B, thedisplay image is not switched. A touch-move from end to end of the touchpanel 170 a can advance more than 40 images. As described above, if thenumber of images to be jumped is one, a touch-move from end to end ofthe jump bar 590 can only advance 40 images. If the number of images tobe jumped is 10, a touch-move from end to end of the jump bar 590 canadvance more images. For example, if B=2A and A=0.2 cm, a touch-move of2 cm advances 50 images.

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating an image switching width when thenumber of images to be jumped is 30. An image switching width 730indicates the switching width. The threshold L is set to a pitch C thatis greater than the pitch B when the number of images to be jumped is10, and smaller than a touch-move distance (3×B) required to advance 30images, indicated by the image switching width 720. A touch-move by thepitch C from left to right displays the 30th previous image (i.e., 30thimage from the current image on the left side). A touch-move by thepitch C from right to left display the 30th image ahead (i.e., 30thimage from the current image on the right side). A touch-move from endto end of the touch panel 170 a can advance more than 30 images. Thepitches B and C when the number of images to be jumped is 10 or more maybe equally set, i.e., to be C=B.

FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating an image switching width when thenumber of images to be jumped is determined by date. An image switchingwidth 740 indicates the switching width. A pitch D is determined byusing the number of days of all the images stored in the recordingmedium 200 (if images of three days are stored, three) so that the pitchD=40×A/the number of days. A touch-move from end to end of the jump bar590 thus enables a jump to any of the images for the total number ofdays. As described above, if the number of days of all the imagesexceeds 20, the pitch D is set to 2×A, which is greater than the pitch Aof single advancing. In such a case, a touch-move from end to end of thejump bar 590 is not sufficient to switch the images over the totalnumber of days. The pitch D is set to 2×A because if the pitch D is setto be too small, a slight operation can change images over a largenumber of days and an intended date is difficult to be specified asdescribed above.

FIG. 7E is a diagram illustrating an image switching width in the caseof jumping files. An image switching width 750 indicates the switchingwidth. The pitch D is determined by dividing the horizontal width of thejump bar 590 by the total number of image files stored in the recordingmedium 200, i.e., D=40×A/the total number of image files. Here, thepitch D is adjusted to be at least 2×A, not to be smaller than the pitchA when the unit of jump advancing is one image. More specifically, ifthe total number of image files is 20 or more, the pitch D=2×A. If thetotal number of image files is 10 or more and less than 20, the pitch Dis set to a width determined by dividing 40×A by the number of imagefiles (>2A) so that all the files can be switched via a touch-move fromend to end of the jump bar 590. If the total number of image files isless than 10, the pitch D is fixed to 4×A since the division by thenumber of image files results in a large touch-move distance required toswitch one file.

Next, an operation of jump advancing when a calendar is displayed willbe described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 illustrates a state inwhich images are displayed on the display unit 128 in a calendarfashion. A cursor 801 indicates a selected date. For example, if May11th is selected, images captured on the selected date are displayed inan area 802. The images in the area 802 can be scrolled by moving acursor 803 in the area 802. The selected date can be changed by making atouch-move operation on a jump bar 804 corresponding to the jump bar 590of FIG. 5. For example, the selected date can be moved to the previousor next date on which any image is captured, by making a touch-moveoperation for a distance L1. The selected date can be moved one by one,including dates without a captured image, when a touch-move is made fora predetermined distance. The distance L1 is set to be L1=40×A/thenumber of days if the number of days of all the images recorded on therecording medium 200 is 20 or less. If the number of days exceeds 20,the distance L1 is set to 2×A (constant value). The unit of switching isnot limited to dates. If the unit of switching can be set to months oryears in a setting screen, the distance L1 can be determined in thefollowing manner. If the unit of switching is changed from dates tomonths or years, the distance L1 is set to 4×A that is greater than 2×A.For example, if the unit of switching is months, the length L1 is set to4×A because 31 (days)×2×A (distance required to switch images of oneday)=62×A makes it difficult to switch to images one month ahead while2×A can cause switching of images of one year or more by only a smalltouch-move. The distance L1 of a touch-move required for image switchingis determined regardless of the number of images included in(corresponding to) each date.

For a multiple display, 4, 12, or 80 images can be displayed on onescreen. Screens can be switched in order of four images, 12 images, 80images, and a calendar display by pressing operations on a multipleplayback button included in the operation unit 170.

As described above, according to the first exemplary embodiment, theoperability in performing jump advancing of images via a touch-moveimproves. If the lower portion of the touch panel 170 a is operated, thejump bar 590 is displayed. The pitch of the jump bar 590 is changedbased on a jump advancing setting, whereby the operability of jumpadvancing improves. As the number of images to be jumped increases, thenumber of images to be advanced by a jump corresponding to a certaindistance or amount of touch-move can be increased. The user can thusperform rough image advancing by operating the lower portion of thetouch panel 170 a and then perform fine image advancing by operating theupper portion of the touch panel 170 a. This enables operations asintended by the user.

The setting of the number of images to be jumped is not limited to thenumber of images or by date (period), and can be executed based onwhether the images are moving images, still images, or favorites. Insuch a case, the pitch can be, for example, fixed to 2×A or 3×A.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the pitch is set based on the settingof the number of images to be jumped. The pitch can be set based on thenumber of images to be reproduced for a multiple playback. In such acase, the pitch is set based on the setting of the number of images tobe reproduced during a multiple playback such as illustrated in FIGS. 5Bto 5D. For example, suppose that one of four images reproduced asillustrated in FIG. 5B is displayed (step S301) by an operation fortouching the image or an operation for selecting the image by moving acursor. In such a case, the number of images to be jumped can be set tofour. Similarly, in the case of a 12-image display in FIG. 5C, thenumber of images to be jumped can be set to 12. In the case of an80-image display in FIG. 5D, the number of images to be jumped can beset to 80. If the number of images to be jumped is set based on thenumber of images in the immediately previous multiple playback, thesystem control unit 250 obtains the number of images during the multipleplayback in step S611 of FIG. 6.

In the foregoing exemplary embodiment, the number of images displayed onone screen is described to be one. However, it is not limited thereto,and the exemplary embodiment is also applicable when a plurality ofimages is displayed on one screen. More specifically, if a plurality ofimages is last displayed as in FIGS. 5B to 5D when a touch-move to apredetermined area is made (YES in step S604), jump advancing can beperformed. For example, in the case of the four-image display in FIG.5B, four images are switched (the images displayed on one screen areswitched to the four previous or subsequent images) by L=2×A. In thecase of the 12-image display in FIG. 5C, 12 images are switched by L=D(2×A<D<(2×A×3)). Similarly, in FIG. 5D, a touch-move distance L requiredto switch the unit number of images (80 images) may be set to be L=E(D<E<2×A×(80/4)). If the unit is 12 images or more, the touch-movedistance L required to switch the unit number of images may be fixed sothat L=D. On the multiple playback screen, prior images appear in theY-axis direction. A predetermined touch-move direction can be atouch-move in the Y-axis direction.

The unit of images to be switched does not need to be the same as thenumber of images in one screen. With a four-image playback screen, theunit can be changed to eight images (as many as two screens). With a12-image playback screen, the unit can be changed to 36 images (as manyas three screens).

FIG. 5B illustrates a screen display example when the display state is amultiple display. A screen 520 display four images, such as an image 522and others. FIG. 5C illustrates a screen display example when thedisplay state is a multiple display. A screen 530 displays 12 images,such as an image 532 and others. FIG. 5D illustrates a screen displayexample when the display state is a multiple display. A screen 540displays 80 images, such as an image 542 and others. In such a manner, amultiple display can display 4, 12, or 80 images on a screen. The numberof images displayed on a screen is changed to such values based on theuser's operations on the touch panel 170 a. Alternatively, the multipleplayback button included in the operation unit 170 can be pressed tochange the number of images displayed on a screen in order of 4, 12, and80.

The first exemplary embodiment has been described based on theassumption of jumping images by operating the jump bar 590 more thanonce. However, there can be a need to jump and check all the images byone touch-move to an end. A second exemplary embodiment deals with anexample in which all the images are jump-advanced via a touch-move froma touch-down position to an end.

In such a case, an operation for advancing images during a touch-move issimilar to that of the flowchart of the touch-move processingillustrated in FIG. 6. In the present exemplary embodiment, onlydifferences from the first exemplary embodiment will be described. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the number of images to be advancedwith respect to the amount of touch-move is determined in the followingmanner.

First, the system control unit 250 calculates the number of images img1from the currently-displayed image to the first image and the number ofimages img2 to the last image. The system control unit 250 thencalculates a distance d1 from the touch position to the left end and adistance d2 to the right end. The system control unit 250 alsocalculates the numbers of pitches d1/A and d2/A over the distances d1and d2.

Next, the system control unit 250 calculates the number of images to beadvanced per pitch (per unit amount A of touch-move), X1=img1/(d1/A),for advancing img1 images from the currently-displayed image to thefirst image. The system control unit 250 similarly calculates the numberof images to be advanced per pitch (per unit amount A of touch-move),X2=img2/(d2/A), for advancing img2 images from the currently-displayedimage to the last image. The system control unit 250 sets the value ofthe greater one of X1 and X2 to be X. X, if a decimal, is rounded up toan integer.

The resulting X is used as the number of images to be advanced per unitamount A of touch-move. If the number of images to be advanced per unitamount A of touch-move is set to X, all the images can be jump-advancedby an operation from the touch position to the left or to the right.

More specifically, for example, suppose that X1>X2 and X is set to beX=X1. In such a case, the number of images to be advanced by anoperation from the touch position to the left isX×(d1/A)=X1×(d1/A)=img1. All the img1 images from thecurrently-displayed image to the first image can thus be jump-advanced.The number of images to be advanced by an operation from the touchposition to the right is X×(d2/A)=X1×(d2/A)>X2×(d2/A)=img2, i.e.,greater than img2. If an operation from the touch position to the rightis made, all the img2 images from the currently-displayed image to thelast image therefore can also be jump-advanced.

As described above, in the second exemplary embodiment, the number ofimages to be advanced per unit amount of touch-move is calculated basedon the number of images from the currently-displayed image to the firstimage, the number of images to the last image, the distance from thetouch position to the left end, and the distance to the right end. Allthe images can thus be jump-advanced by an operation from the touchposition to the left or to the right. Similar to the first exemplaryembodiment, operations intended by the user can be performed byswitching the scale of the image advancing.

The first exemplary embodiment is described on the assumption of jumpingimages by operating the jump bar 590 more than once. In the secondexemplary embodiment, all the images are described to be jump-advancedif a touch-move is made from the position of a touch-down to an end.

There may be a need to determine whether to jump images beyond a date inperforming jump advancing if the jump advancing setting is made by datein particular. A third exemplary embodiment deals with an example inwhich boundary lines are drawn on the jump bar 590 during jump advancingif the jump advancing setting is made by date.

In such a case, an operation for advancing images during a touch-move issimilar to that of the flowchart relating to the touch-move processingillustrated in FIG. 6. In the present exemplary embodiment, onlydifferences from the first exemplary embodiment will be described. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, boundary lines are drawn on the jumpbar 590 in the following manner.

First, the system control unit 250 calculates the numbers of images fromthe current image to images of respective dates. To calculate thenumbers of images in a direction of going back dates by a leftwardtouch-move operation, the system control unit 250 calculates the numbersof images to the last images of the previous dates. In a direction ofadvancing dates by a rightward touch-move operation, the system controlunit 250 calculates the numbers of images to the first images of thesubsequent dates. The system control unit 250 then draws boundary lineson the jump bar 590 based on the numbers of images calculated asdescribed above and the touch position.

As described above, in the third exemplary embodiment, if the menusetting of jump advancing is made by date, the system control unit 250,when a touch position is settled, calculates boundary positions based onthe numbers of images of respective dates and draws boundary lines onthe jump bar 590. This enables the user to recognize jump advancing ofimages beyond a date, and enables operations as intended by the user.

The foregoing various types of control described to be performed by thesystem control unit 250 can be performed by hardware. A plurality ofhardware elements can perform the control of the entire imagingapparatus by sharing the processing.

Exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above. Thesespecific exemplary embodiments are not seen to be limiting, and variousembodiments not departing from the essence of the invention are alsoincluded in the present disclosure. Each of the foregoing exemplaryembodiments merely shows an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and the exemplary embodiments can be combined asappropriate.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments have been described using thedigital camera 100 as an example. However, this example is not seen tobe limiting, and an exemplary embodiment can be applied to a displaycontrol apparatus that switches display images via a touch operation.More specifically, an exemplary embodiment is applicable to a personalcomputer (PC), a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, adigital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic bookreader, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a projection apparatus, and a homeappliance, if they include a touch panel. An exemplary embodiment isalso applicable to an apparatus for controlling a display apparatus thatreceives a live view image captured by a digital camera via wired orwireless communication and displays the live view image for remote imagedisplay. Examples of such an apparatus includes a smartphone, a tabletPC, and a desktop PC.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

One or more functions of the foregoing exemplary embodiments can beimplemented by processing of supplying a program to a system or anapparatus via a network or a storage medium, and reading and executingthe program by one or more processors of a computer of the system orapparatus. The one or more functions can be implemented by a circuit(e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the operability of the user inmaking an image switching operation via a touch operation can beimproved.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) can also be realized by a computer of a system orapparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions(e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which mayalso be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits(e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performingthe functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or morecircuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g.,central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and mayinclude a network of separate computers or separate processors to readout and execute the computer executable instructions. The computerexecutable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example,from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include,for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, anoptical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD),or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and thelike.

While exemplary embodiments have been described, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplaryembodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2017-025272, filed Feb. 14, 2017, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display control apparatus comprising: a memoryand at least one processor to perform operations of the following units:a touch detection unit that detects a touch operation on a touch panel;a unit setting unit configured to set a unit of unit-by-unit imageswitching; and a switching unit configured to switch images to bedisplayed so that if the unit set by the unit setting unit is a firstunit, an image the first unit ahead is displayed based on apredetermined touch-move of moving a touch position on the touch panelbeing made for a first distance, and if the unit set by the unit settingunit is a second unit greater than the first unit, an image the secondunit ahead is displayed based on the predetermined touch-move being madefor a second distance longer than the first distance, wherein the seconddistance is shorter than a distance of the predetermined touch-moverequired to display an image the second unit ahead of a first image whenthe unit set by the unit setting unit is the first unit.
 2. The displaycontrol apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit and thesecond unit are numbers of images, and the number of images of thesecond unit is N times the number of images of the first unit.
 3. Thedisplay control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a number ofimages to be switched based on the predetermined touch-move being madefor a third distance when the second unit is set is smaller than N timesthe number of images to be switched based on the predeterminedtouch-move being made for the third distance when the first unit is set.4. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein controlis performed so that a distance of the predetermined touch-move requiredto switch images to be displayed on the display unit as many as the unitset by the unit setting unit when the unit is the second unit is thesame as that when the unit is a third unit greater than the second unit.5. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstunit is one image, and wherein the second unit either a day, a month, ora year.
 6. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined touch-move is acceptable when a single image isdisplayed on a screen of the display unit, and wherein the first unit isone image.
 7. The display control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first unit is a date, and wherein the second unit is amonth.
 8. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe second unit is a unit of a predetermined group, wherein if a numberof groups switchable based on the predetermined touch-move is smallerthan a predetermined number, the second distance changes based on thenumber of groups, and wherein if the number of groups is greater thanthe predetermined number, the second distance is a constant distanceregardless of the number of groups exceeding the predetermined number.9. The display control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thepredetermined group is a date or a folder in which images recorded on arecording medium are stored.
 10. The display control apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch-move is acceptable when aplurality of images is displayed on a screen of the display unit, andwherein the unit setting unit is configured to set a unit correspondingto a number of images to be displayed on the one screen as the unit ofimage switching.
 11. The display control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the predetermined touch-move is a touch operation for moving thetouch position along a first direction after a touch is started on afirst area of the touch panel, the first area being longer in the firstdirection.
 12. The display control apparatus according to claim 11,wherein the switching unit performs control to display a bar indicatingthe first area.
 13. The display control apparatus according to claim 11,wherein the switching unit performs control to, based on a touch beingstarted on a second area of the touch panel and then released after amovement of the touch position along the first direction, the secondarea being different from the first area, switch an image displayed onan display unit to an image of adjoining order regardless of the unitset by the unit setting unit if the movement of the touch position islonger than a predetermined distance.
 14. The display control apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the unit setting unit is configured to seta number of images displayed when a plurality of images is lastdisplayed on a screen of a playback screen as the unit of imageswitching.
 15. The display control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the switching unit is further configured to, based on anoperation on a predetermined operation member, switch images by the unitset by the unit setting unit.
 16. The display control apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein the operation on the predeterminedoperation member is a dial operation.
 17. A method for controlling adisplay control apparatus, comprising: detecting a touch operation on atouch panel; setting a unit of unit-by-unit image switching; andswitching images to be displayed so that if the set unit is a firstunit, an image the first unit ahead is displayed based on apredetermined touch-move of moving a touch position on the touch panelbeing made for a first distance, and if the set unit is a second unitgreater than the first unit, an image the second unit ahead is displayedbased on the predetermined touch-move being made for a second distancelonger than the first distance, wherein the second distance is shorterthan a distance of the predetermined touch-move required to display animage the second unit ahead of a first image when the set unit is thefirst unit.
 18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumstoring a program for performing a method, the method comprising:detecting a touch operation on a touch panel; setting a unit ofunit-by-unit image switching; and switching images to be displayed sothat if the set unit is a first unit, an image the first unit ahead isdisplayed based on a predetermined touch-move of moving a touch positionon the touch panel being made for a first distance, and if the set unitis a second unit greater than the first unit, an image the second unitahead is displayed based on the predetermined touch-move being made fora second distance longer than the first distance, wherein the seconddistance is shorter than a distance of the predetermined touch-moverequired to display an image the second unit ahead of a first image whenthe set unit is the first unit.